Pinless clothes-line



No. 607,883. Patented July 26, I898. F. N. RENFROW.

'PINLESS CLOTHES LINE.

(Application filed. Aug. 23. 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 607,883. Pafcented July 26, I898.

F. N. RENFBOW.

PINLESS CLOTHES LINE. (Application filed Aug. 23, 1897.) (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

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III

FRANCIS NEWTON BENFROW, or PEARCE, MISSISSIPPI.

PINLESS CLOTHES-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,883, dated July 26, 1898.

Application filed August 23, l 8 9 7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS NEWTON REN-. FROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pearce, in the county of Yazoo and State of Mississippi,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pinless Olothes- Lines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to a novel clothesline, the object being to produce a simple device of this character by means of which clothes may be suspended for the purpose of drying without the necessity for the employment of clothes-pins or .other similar devices secured directly to the fabric and which not only tend to wear the same, but are extremely inconvenient in use.

To the accomplishment of this object and others subordinate thereto, my invention con sists in certain peculiarities of construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be made apparent.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a a general View of my clothes-line organized as in use, showing the strands separated for the reception of clothes. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the strands clamped together. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the tension mechanism. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the line-clamps, and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the clamping-post.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate a pair of posts provided near their upper ends with cleats 3 and 4, apertured at their opposite extremities for the-reception of the opposite ends of the line-strands 5 and 6. The cleat 3 is permanently secured to the post 2; but the cleat 4 is mounted upon guide-rods 7, extending from the post 1, and is designed to be adjusted laterally with respect to the post, as by a tension-screw 8, engaging the cleat and passing through the post and provided upon its extremity with a crank 9. The cleat 4 and the connecting parts constitute tension mechanism,by means of which, the tension upon the line may be increased or diminished, as desired, it being obvious that the lateral movement of the cleat 4 under the impulse of the screw 8 will cause the line to Serial No. 649,098. (No model.)

be tightened or slack, in accordance with the direction of movement.

10 indicates what I will term a clampingpost designed to be located midway between the posts l and 2 and provided with a longitudinal slot 11, through which the strands -of the line are designed to pass, and with a second longitudinal Slot 12 at right angles to the slot 11 and within which is designed to work a clamping-loop 13, formed from wire or other suitable material and provided upon its lower extremity with a handle 14.

It will be observed that when the loop is elevated the strands of the line may be separated nearly the length of the slot in the post, but that when the clamping-loop is depressed the strands will be forced into contact at the lower extremity of the slot and also retained by the clamping-loop, which is secured in its depressed position by a pin 15 extending from the post 10 and under which the lower extremity of the loop is placed and securely held.

16 16 indicate anumber of line-clamps consisting, respectively, of wire loops 17, provided with rings or handles 18 upon their lower extremities and through which the strands of the clothes-line are passed. Clamping-blocks 19 are mounted upon the loops 17, as by means of a longitudinal slot 20, through which said loops pass, and the upper extremities of the blocks are provided with transverse recesses 21, into which the strands are designed to be forced and clamped by the retraction of the loops, which are held securely in this position by means of set-screws 22,

screwed into the sides of the clamping-blocks and against the adjacent side of the loops.

Thus it will be apparent that when the several set-screws of the line-clamps are loosen ed the loops of said clamps may be extended through the clam ping-blocks and the strands of the clothes-line may be separated to the full extent of the lengthof the extended ends of the loops to facilitate the insertion of the clothes between the strands. The loops are then retracted through the clamping-blocks to bring the strands of the line in close contact, and the line-clamps are secured in the clamped position by meansof the set-screws in the manner described.

The line is supposed to be clamped at all times by the clamping-post; but when desired the loop carried thereby may be released and the strands may be separated throughout their entire lengths. Thus it will be seen that I have produced a simple clothes-line by means of which the clothes may be readily hung or detached without necessity for the employment of clothes-pins or other devices designed to be connected directly to the clothes and by means of which the tension of the strands may be regulated as desired with facility and expedition.

While the present embodiment of my invention appears at this time to be preferable, I do not desire to limit myself to the structural details set out, but reserve the right to change, modify, or vary them at will within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with suitable supports, of a clothes-line composed of a plurality of strands and line-clamps composed of clamping-blocks and adjustable loops carried by said blocks, and through which the strands are designed to pass, substantially as specifi'ed.

2. The combination with suitable supports, of a clothes-line composed of a plurality of strands, a slotted clamping post through which said strands are passed intermediate of the supports, and clamping mechanism carried by the clamping-post and designed to regulate the relations of the strands within the limits of the slot, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a pair of posts, of cleats carried by said posts, strands secured at their opposite ends to the opposite extremities of the cleats, a slotted clamping-post through which the strands are designed to be passed, and an adjustable clamping-loop carried by the clamping-post, means for securing said loop in place, and line-clamps carried by the strands, substantially as specified.

' 4:. The combination with a pair of supports, of a clothes-line composed of a plurality of strands, a clamping-post provided with a slot through which the strands are passed, and a movable clamping-loop carried by the clamping-post, substantially as specified.

5.-In a line-clamp of the character described, the combination with an elongated loop provided with a handle at one extremity, of a clamping-block provided with a bore designed for the reception of said loop, a transverse recess in the upper end of said clamping-block, and a set-screw upon said block designed to secure the same to the loop, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with a pair of supports, of a clothes-line composed of a plurality of strands secured at their opposite ends to the supports, a clamping-post provided with longitudinal slots at right angles, one of said slots being designed for the reception of the strands and a movable clamping-loop passing through the other of said slots and designed to regulate the relations of the strands, substantially as specified.

7. In a line-clamp of the character described, the combination With a loop, of a clamping-block provided with a longitudinal bore, and with a transverse recess in its upper end and in line with the eye or open portion of the loop, and means for adjustably securing said loop, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS NEVTON RENFROlV.

Witnesses:

.TAs. S. PERRIN, W. C. RICHARDSON. 

